Electric attachment for clocks.



J. O. HAMILTON.

ELECTRIC ATTACHMENT FOR CLOCKS. APPLICATION FlLED AUG. 19. 1915.

1,175,754. Patented Mar. 14, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

J fin O.Ha7niliow,

I I m THE COLUMBIA PLA JOGRAPH :0, WASHINGTON, 1:. cv

UNITED STATES PATENT orrron.

JOHN O. HAMILTON, OF MANHATTAN, KANSAS.

ELECTRIC ATTACHMENT FOR CLOCKS.

Application filed August 19, 1915.

T all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN O. HAMILTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Manhattan, in the county of Riley and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Attachments for Clocks; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and eXact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to automatic electric program or schedule attachments for clocks.

The object of the invention is to provide a simply constructed device of this character which may be applied to the arbor of the hour hand of any clock and actuated at any desired predetermined intervals to sound a signal according to one or more programs or schedules, for use in factories, schools or the like.

Another object is to provide simply constructed means whereby the sounding of the signal may be automatically cut out at predetermined intervals.

lVith these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction and the combination and arrangement of parts to be more fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 represents a front elevation of a clock equipped with this improved attachment; Fig. 2 is a detail vertical transverse section through the cut-out; Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the complete attachment detached with parts ofthe annulus broken out for convenience in illustration; Fig. 4: is an edge view of a clock equipped with this attachment.

In the embodiment illustrated, an annulus 1 is shown adapted to encircle a clock dial D outside the hour numerals thereon and which may be constructed of any suitable material. This annulus has a central hub or nave 2 which is designed for connection to the arbor of the hour hand of the clock and to rotate therewith, and is provided wi h radial a ms 3 for supporting the annulus on said hub, said arms being connected with the inner edge of said annulus and preferably formed integral therewith and with the hub. A supporting frame for Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 14, 1916. Serial No. 46,392.

connecting the attachment to the frame of a clock is here shown in the form of two bars 4 and 5 which converge toward their lower ends and have mounted thereon a segmental or arcuate block 6 constructed of non-con ducting material preferably wood and which is here shown formed of two sections 7 and 8 arranged in dilferent planes designed for a purpose to be described.

The upper ends of the bars 4 and 5 are shown curved laterally outward and are secured to the framework F of the clock by suitable fastening elements, screws being here shown. A cross bar 9 connects the upper ends of the bars 4 and 5 at a point adjacent but spaced from the annulus 1 and this bar 9 is here shown centrally enlarged as shown at 9 to form a suitable support for two levers l0 and 11 which are fulcrumed thereon in superposed relation, the lever 10 being arranged in front of the lever 11 and spaced therefrom a suitable distance to permit them to move relatively to each other without contacting. As shown, a post 12 projects laterally from the bar 9 to properly position the levers l0 and 11 relatively to the annulus, said levers being mounted on the front end of said post in planes in advance of each other and in advance of the annulus. The inner or under lever 11 is made shorter than the outer lever 10 at both ends for a purpose to be described, and both have their upper ends arranged opposite the outer face of the annulus. These levers 10 and 11 are shown provided on their lower ends with disks 13 and 1 the peripheries of which are de signed to engage contacts 15 and 16 carried respectively by the arcuate block 6, any desired number of which may be employed according to the number of times a signal is desired to be repeated as will be hereinafter more fully described, two being here shown arranged in the path of lever 10 and indicated at 15 and 15 spaced from each other. These contacts 15, 15', and 16 are connected with one pole of a suitable electric source, a battery B being here shown connected therewith by a wire W having branches 20 and 10' connected respectively with the contacts 15, 15 and 16, posts 15- and 16 being here shown connected at one end with the contacts and extended through the step-like members 7 and 8 of block 6 and are connected at their inner or rear ends with said branch wires 10 and w.

These ranches 20 and w are connected with. the wire W by means of a binding post 6' extending from the rear face of the block 6.

Arranged on the outer face of the annulus 1 are two concentric series oi apertures 1'7 and 18, the apertures of one series being arranged in staggered relation to those of the other and which may be spaced apart any suitable or desired regular distance to provide for the sounding of the signal, say

at one minute and five minute periods. These apertures are designed to receive small posts or pins 19 and 19' which are arranged in the path of the upper ends of the levers 10 and 11, and are designed to engage said leverson the turning of the annulus to operate them at predetermined intervals, whereby their lower ends are swung into engagement with the contacts 15 and 16 for sounding a signal, which is accomplished by the closing of the electric circuit when the disks 13 and 1% on said levers engage said contacts. The pins 19 which actuate the shorter lever 11, are shown shorter than the pins 19 which actuate the longer lever 10 to permit the pins 19 to pass under the ever 10 without operating it.

, An automatic cut-out is arranged adjacent the annulus 1 and is here shown in the form of a metal disk Or gear 20 provided on its periphery with a plurality of teeth 20, fifty- SlX of which are here shown. This disk is preferably constructed of brass and is provided on its outer face with a plurality of insulating elements in the form of blocks 21, any desired number of which may be employed, six being here shown, and which are here shown carried by a connecting base 21 and set in the face of said disk with their outer faces flush with the outer face ofthe disk, and are designed to break the circuit w en it is desired to discontinue the sounding of the alarm at certain periods, at night for instance, said disk being connected with the other pole or the battery B in a manner to be described.

Five of the blocks 21 are here shown of equal size and which are designed to cut out the sounding of the signals on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday nights, while the larger block 21 is designed to cut them out Saturday night, Sunday and Sunday night. It is, however, to be understood that the arrangement and size of these insulating blocks may be varied to suit the purposes of the proprietor or operator to cut out the sounding of the signals for any desired length of time.

The annulus 1 is provided on its periphery with a single tooth 22 which meshes with the teeth 20 of the disk or gear wheel 20 and is designed to turn said disk onefourteenth of arevolution on each engagement or actuation by the tooth 22. A spring contact finger 23 is secured at one end to the bar 4, being here shown mounted on a post at which is insulated from said bar,

and at its other end has a laterally eXtending stud or contact button 25 on its inner face positioned over the face of the disk 20 in the path of the blocks 21 and 21 and is designed to contact therewith. When one of the insulating blocks passes under said button 25, the circuit is broken and the sounding of the signal prevented. This contact finger 23 is connected through post 2% with the other terminal of the battery B by a wire 'W as shown in Fig. 3, said post be ing insulated from the bar d of the frame by means of a sleeve 24 of insulating material, said sleeve being here shown made in two sections to provide for its application. (See Fig. 2). This sleeve is secured by two nuts 2t and 24 arranged at opposite ends thereof, whereby it and the post at are reliably retained in operative position. A binding nut or thumb nut 24: connects the Wire W to said post by clamping it between it and said nut 2e.

In the operation of this improved attachment, when the parts are positioned as shown in Fig. 1, the studs or pins 19 and 19 which are designed to operate the levers 10 and 11, are positioned at suitable intervals, according to the periods it is designed to sound the signal, in the apertures oi the annulus so that on the turning of said annulus caused by the rotation of the arbor of the hour hand of the clock, these pins will be engaged with the upper ends of the levers 10 and 11, first one lever being engaged and then the other successively,

owing to the staggered position of the apertures which receive the pins. When these upper lever ends are so engaged, their lower disk carrying ends will be moved toward and into engagement with the contacts 15 or 16 and thereby close the circuit and sound the signal S which is included in said circuit. It is of course understood that the contact will be broken when the upper ends of the levers are released, and said levers will return to normal position out of engagement with the contacts by gravity, operating in a manner similar to that of a clock pendulum. Owing, however, to the very slow turning of the annulus 1, the pins will remain sometime in engagement with the levers and the signal sounded during such interval of engagement. Moreover, the slow turning of the annulus will cause the lower end of the lever engaged V to be swung suiiiciently to cause it to engage the contact 15 and repeat the signal before the lever is released. The ringing of the hell or sounding of the alarm used is discontinued when one of the insulating blocks on disk 20 passes under the contact button 25, the circuit being broken until the insulating element on said disk passes from under said button.

From the above description it will be understood that the current, when the circuit is completed, flows from battery B through wire W, and the branches 'w and w thereof to contacts 15, 15 and 16 and thence through the lever 10 or 11, according to the one which is in engagement with its contact, through bars 9 and a of the attachment frame, through disk 20 and finger 23, post 2%, back to the battery through wire VF. The circuit is open when both levers are out of engagement with their contacts and on the engagement of one of them with its contact, the circuit is closed and the signal. or signals arranged therein sounded. It is also of course understood that the circuit will be brok n on the passage of the button 25 over one of the insulating blocks 21 or 21.

From the above description, it will be obvious that this attach nent, while very simple in construction, is eiiicient in operation and may be readily an lied to the hour hand arbor of any clock by clamping the hub 2 of the annulus on said arbor, as is shown clearly in Fig. i, the arbor being indicated a+ A. The bars 4 and 5 are then engaged with the clock frame in the manner above described, and the attachment is ready for use and will operate automatically on the turning of the hour hand to sound the alarm which controlled by the positioning of the pins or studs 19 and 19 in the apertures l7 and 18 or the annulus 1, and by the location of the insulating blocks on the disk 10.

I claim as my invention 1. In an automati program attachment for clocksan annulus provided with means for securing it to the hour hand arbor of a clock, said annulus having a plurality of concentric rows of apertures, those of one row being arranged in staggered relation to those of the adjacent row, pins for insertion in said apertures, an electric circuit with a signal therein, lvers of different lengths fulcrumed intermediately of their ends with one end positioned in the path of said pins for engagement alternately thereby, said levers being included in said circuit, and contacts arranged in the path of said levers for closing the circuit on the actuation of said lovers by said pins.

2. in an automatic program attachment for clocks an annulus provided with means for sccur'ag it to the hour hand arbor of a clock, s id annulus h ving a plurality of concentric rows of apertures, those of one row being arranged in staggered relation to those of the adiacent row, pins for insertion in said apertures, an electric circuit with a signal therein, levers of diflerent lengths fulcrumed intermediately of their ends with one end positioned in the path of said pins for engagement alternately ther by, said levers included in said circuit, contacts arranged in the path or" said levers for closing the circuit on the actuation of said levers by said pins, a cut-out arranged in said circuit and operated by said annulus to break the circuit at predetermined intervals.

In an automatic program attachment for clocks an annulus provided with means for securing it to the hour hand arbor of a clock, said annulus having a plurality of concentric rows of apertures, those of one row being arranged in staggered relation to those of the adjacent row, pins for insertion in said apertures, an electric circuit with a signal therein, levers of dili erent lengths fulcrumed intermediately of their ends with one end positioned in the path of said pins for engagement alternately thereby, said levers included in said circuit, contacts ar ran 'ed in the path of said levers for closing the circuit on the actuation of said levers by said pins, a cut-out arranged in said circuit and comprising a metal disk connected with one pole of the circuit and having insulat ing elements thereon, a circuit completing member connected with the other pole of the circuit and engaging the face of said disk, and means for rotating said disk.

-l. In an automatic program attachment for clocks an annulus provided with means for securing it to the hour hand arbor of a clock, said annulus having a plurality of concentric rows of apertures, those of one row being arranged in staggered relation to those of the adjacent row, pins for insertion in said apertures, an electric circuit with a signal therein, levers of diil'ereiit lengths fulcrumed intermediately of their ends with one end positioned in the path of said pins for engagement alternately thereby, said lc vers included in said circuit, contacts arranged in the path of said levers for closing the circuit on the actuation of said levers bv said pins, a cut-out arranged in said circuit and comprising a metal disk connected with one pole of the circuit and having insulating elements thereon, a circuit completing member connected with the other pole of the circuit and engaging the face of said disk, said disk having teeth on its periphery and a tooth on said annulus meshing with the teeth of said disk for rotating the disk to bring the insulating elements thereof under said circuit completing member.

in an automatic program attachment for clocks an annulus provided with means for securing it to the hour hand arbor of a clock, said annulus having a plurality of concentric rows of apertures, those of one row being arranged in staggered relation to those of the adjacent row, pins for insertion of OJ in said apertures, an electric circuit with a signal therein, levers of different lengths fulcrumed intermediately of their ends with one end positioned in the path of said pins for engagement a ternatcly thereby, said levers included in said circuit, contacts arranged in the path of said levers for closing the circuit on the actuation of said levers by said pins, a cut-out arranged in said circuit and comprising a metal disk connected with one pole of the circuit and having insulating elements thereon, a link connected at one end with the oth r pole of the electric circuit and having its free end bearing on the of said dislr, and cooperating means on said disk and annulus for rotating he dislr.

6. in an automatic programattachment for clocks an annulus provide: with means for securing it to the hour hand arbor of a clock, said annulus having a plurality of concentric rows of apertures, those of one row being arranged in staggered relation to those of the adjacent row, pins for inser- 'o"1 in said a} ertures, an elect ic circuit a signal therein, levers of different ihs fulcrumed intermediately of their with one end positioned in the path said pins for engagement alternately "y, contacts ged in the path of her end of s i l levers, said levers beincluded in said circuit, depending besaid annulus, and mounted to oscillate, ne of said levers being arranged in advance of the other, the inner lever being shorter than the outer.

'l. The combination with a clock includframe, of program attachment combars secured to the lower portion of frame and depending therefrom, said onverging toward their lower ends, a

7. nal

or as bar connecting the upper ends thereof, a bloclr of insulating material carried by the lower ends of said bars and having a stepped face, the higher step being arranged bQlOW he lower step, contacts carried by said steps, an electric circuit including said prising bars secured to the lower portion of said frame and depending therefrom, said bars converging toward their lower ends, a cross bar connecting the upper ends thereof, a block of insulating material carried by the lowerends of said bars and having a stepped outer face, the higher step being arranged below the lower step, contacts carried by said steps, an electric circuit including said contacts and a signal, levers fulcrumed on said cross bar and arranged one in advance of the other and spaced apart, the inner lever being shorter than the outer, said contacts arranged in the path of the lower end of said levers, said levers being included in said circuit, an annulus fixed to the hour hand arbor of the clock and underlying the upper ends of said levers, and interchangeable means carried by said annulus in'the path of said lever ends, whereby the levers are swung on the turning of the annulus to cause their lower ends to engage said contacts.

9. An electric program' attachment for clocks comprising a frame having means for connection with a clock frame, contacts carried by said frame and insulated therefrom, an electric circuit in which said frame and contacts are included, a signal included in said circuit, circuit closing levers fulcrumed on said frame, said contacts being arranged in the path of the lower ends of said levers, and means for actuating said levers to cause them to engage said contacts positioned in the path of their other ends and having means for connection with the hour hand arbor of a clock. v

10. An electric program attachment for clocks comprising a frame having means for connection with a clock frame, contacts carried by said frame and insulated therefrom, an electric circuit in which said frame and contacts are included, a signal included in said circuit, circuit closing levers fulcrumed on said frame, said contacts being arranged in the path of the lower ends of said levers, disks carried by said levers with their peripheries positioned to engage said contacts, and means for alternately actuating said levers to bring th ir disks into engagement with the contacts and close the circuit at predetermined intervals.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set 1y hand in presence of two subscribing Witnessesn JOHN O; HAMILTON.

Witnesses HATTIE WHITE,

FANNZ DALE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

